In a pair of parallel stories, two foreigners--one a doctor and one a soldier--each arrive in different cities and manage to maneuver themselves into positions of influence with the political rulers there. Though this is a science fiction novel, it is not set within the borders of Banks' Culture series. A New York Times Notable Book for 2000.

In steamy New Orleans, lesbian detective Mickey Knight takes on the case of Cissy, the daughter of a friend, who is believed to have been sexually abused. In Cissy's troubled dreams, Mickey hears echoes of her own past that fuels her obsession to prevent other children from being abused. Searching for the reasons for Cissy's fright, Mickey enters a sordid world where young girls are treated as commodities. From the uptown opulence of the private Sans Pareil Club to a tawdry bar near the projects, Mickey follows a trail of evil and mystery that culminates where law and desire intersect. Winner of the 1995 LAMBDA Literary Award for Lesbian Mystery.